Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School

What Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School does

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School is a tribally controlled K-12 educational institution operating on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation in Hayward, Wisconsin, founded in 1975 after a student walkout from the local public school. The school serves primarily Native American students who are members of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe, other federally recognized tribes, or who hold proof of one-quarter degree Indian Blood. It operates under a Bureau of Indian Education framework with the Tribal Governing Board functioning as the local school board, and is fully accredited by Cognia. The institution is celebrating its 50th year in the 2025-2026 school year and maintains a staff of approximately 80 across instructional, administrative, and support roles.

The school's curriculum is built on a bilingual, bicultural platform pairing Wisconsin Model Academic Standards with mandatory four-year Ojibwe language instruction and the Izhitwaawin Traditional Ojibwe Knowledge program, which integrates traditional foods, crafts, music, pipemaking, regalia making, and drum making into every classroom. The Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion School operates as a school within a school under a 2014 merger. Specialized programs include a Project Lead The Way certified STEM track enabling students to earn up to nine college credits from MSOE or St. Cloud State University, dual-credit pathways with Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College, carpentry/woodworking and automotive vocational education, special education services under Title 34 CFR Part 300, gifted and talented programming, and the Migiziwag Athletics program for grades 6-12. Early-childhood and family services are delivered through the FACE program, which has been continuously funded by BIE since 1993 as one of 54 Native American programs nationwide.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed and accrues from multiple public sources rather than tuition. Primary funding flows from the Bureau of Indian Education, with additional support from Wisconsin state funding aligned to state graduation requirements, Department of Education competitive grants (notably a $1 million award in 2022 for vocational programs and a $1 million award in 2024 for Ojibwemowin immersion), and direct tribal allocation from the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board, including the $19 million summer 2024 campus-wide HVAC, lighting, fire-protection, and backup-generator upgrade. The only direct user charge is a $25 refundable athletic participation fee. Distribution is community-driven and application-based, with service-area bus transportation covering the reservation and surrounding Hayward, Couderay, Winter, Exeland, and Radisson townships, plus a route to the Bad River Ojibwe community restarted in 2024. Marketed at a PE/VC/M&A audience, this is not an investable vehicle: it is a public-purpose tribal institution with no equity holders, no fundraises, and no exit pathway.

Name

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School

Legal name

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School

Website

https://lcoosk12.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School is a tribally controlled K-12 institution in Hayward, Wisconsin, serving Native American students on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation with bilingual, bicultural education that integrates mandatory Ojibwe language, traditional knowledge, and Wisconsin academic standards through BIE and tribal funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tribal K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Language Schools (611630), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools (EDAJABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter Language Immersion & Bilingual Schools (EDAJACAI), Bilingual/Language-Immersion Preschools (EDACABAH), Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

Keywords

• K-12 education
• Native American education
• Ojibwe language immersion
• Tribally controlled school
• STEM education

Headquarters

HQ city

Hayward

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Bureau of Indian Education Funding: Primary funding from the BIE which provides the mandated framework for academic, assessment, safety, and educator standards. As a tribally controlled school, the Tribal Governing Board acts as the local school board.
2. State of Wisconsin Funding: Operates under Wisconsin Model Academic Standards. Students must meet State of Wisconsin graduation requirements including Civic Education Test.
3. Department of Education Grants: Received Department of Education grant in 2022 for carpentry and woodworking department. $1 million DOE grant in 2024 to strengthen Ojibwemowin department for immersion options K-12.
4. Tribal Support: Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board provides ongoing support including renovations and improvements paid through tribal generosity.
5. Athletic Participation Fee: $25 participation fee deposit for athletic programs. Deposit returned upon completion of program in good academic standing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School is a tribally controlled K-12 educational institution serving Native American students on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation in Hayward, Wisconsin. The school delivers a comprehensive kindergarten-through-12th-grade academic program aligned with Wisconsin Model Academic Standards, with mandatory Ojibwe language instruction (4 years for graduation) and integration of Traditional Ojibwe Knowledge (Izhitwaawin) across every classroom. It also operates the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion School, the FACE early childhood program, PLTW STEM courses with dual credit, vocational education, athletics (Migiziwag), and special education services.

Product overview

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School is a comprehensive K-12 educational institution that operates as a platform-plus-programs architecture, serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The core offering is the K-12 General Education Program aligned with Wisconsin Model Academic Standards, which encompasses Elementary, Middle School, and High School sub-products. Operating alongside the general program is the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion School (a school within a school since 2014), offering full immersion track options. The portfolio includes specialized sub-products: FACE (Family and Child Education) for early childhood development, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) for STEM education, Special Education services, Gifted and Talented programs, and Vocational Education including carpentry/woodworking and automotive programs. Cultural integration is provided through Izhitwaawin (Culture Integration) and Ojibwemowin (Ojibwe Language) programs. Athletic offerings branded as Migiziwag Athletics include volleyball, basketball, football, cross country, track and golf. Additional programs include 21st Century Community Learning Centers (after-school enrichment), Hunters Safety, Drivers Education, and National Honor Society. The school is overseen by the Bureau of Indian Education and accredited by Cognia, operating on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation in Hayward, Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Migiziwag Athletics: Athletics program of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School serving students in grades 6-12 with sports including football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, and track.
• FACE (Family and Child Education)
• Waadookodaading

Products and services

• K-12 General Education Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Students can graduate with up to 9 college credits from PLTW courses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Parents as Teachers (PAT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993National partnership for Family Enrichment Services providing home visitations for children pre-natal to age 3. PAT curriculum involves age-specific information, parenting issues, child development, goal setting, and family well-being. Lessons adapted to include Ojibwe culture and language. Staff include certified PAT practitioners.
• Unite for LiteracycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline book platform partnership providing Ojibwemowin translated booklets. Developed 28 Ojibwe language translated booklets with possibility of more in the future. Narration available in Ojibwemowin.
• National Center for Families Learning (NCFL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership for Prekindergarten information and programming. Supports FACE program in providing developmentally appropriate, active learning curriculum particularly in language and mathematics for children ages 3-4.
• Imagination Library (Dolly Parton Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly book program for FACE participants providing age-appropriate books delivered to families. Supports early literacy development and family reading engagement.
• Lac Courte Oreilles Boys & Girls ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. Boys & Girls Club provides daily hot meals for students and collaborates on enrichment activities, drug prevention through teachings, art therapy, and youth leadership activities.
• Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege credit provider for PLTW courses. Students passing end-of-course exams with stanine score of 7 receive 3 credits from MSOE.
• St. Cloud State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege credit provider for PLTW courses. Students passing end-of-course exams with stanine score of 4 receive 3 credits from St. Cloud State.
• Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual credit partnership providing college-level coursework opportunities for high school students. Local tribal college collaboration for seamless educational pathway.
• Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMembership organization governing interscholastic athletics. School participates in WIAA-sponsored sports including football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, track and golf. Subject to WIAA eligibility rules and season regulations.
• Bad River Ojibwe CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdditional bus route to Bad River Ojibwe community re-started in 2024, extending educational services to neighboring tribal community.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nay Ah Shing School: BIE-funded K-12 school of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota with established Ojibwe language immersion program, directly paralleling LCO's Waadookodaading immersion track.
• Fond du Lac Ojibwe School: BIE-funded K-12 school serving the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Minnesota with cultural/language integration and Ojibweemowin instruction.
• Pine Point School: BIE-funded K-12 school serving the White Earth Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota, comparable in size and tribal governance structure to LCO.
• Menominee Indian School District: Tribally controlled K-12 school district serving the Menominee Indian Tribe in Wisconsin. Shares tribal governance structure, BIE oversight, and rural Wisconsin location with LCO.
• Oneida Nation School System: Tribally controlled K-12 school system serving the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin, operating under similar BIE framework with cultural integration curriculum.
• Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe School: Tribally controlled K-12 school serving the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Wisconsin. Operates under similar BIE framework with cultural/language preservation mission.
• Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School: BIE-funded K-12 school serving the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in northern Minnesota. Directly comparable as a tribally controlled Ojibwe K-12 school with cultural integration mandate.

Regional players

• Bayfield School District: Nearby rural Wisconsin public school district serving similar geographic area around the Apostle Islands; competes indirectly for non-tribal families in the Hayward/Bayfield region.
• Hayward Community School District: Local public school district in Hayward, Wisconsin that shares the same service area as LCO and was the source of the 1975 student walkout that catalyzed LCO's expansion to K-12.

Emerging players

• Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion School: Ojibwe language immersion school operating as a school-within-a-school at LCO since 2014; comparable as a niche language immersion program though organizationally housed within the LCO system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCACsu527mmayIsUybSAbEEg
• Facebookfacebook.com/284618618413426
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/lac-courte-oreilles-ojibwe-school

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School